Liquid crystal device and method for screening protein stabilizing agents or optimal protein concentrations to prevent unfolding

Methods and devices for assaying the effectiveness of a cleaning composition in removing a protein or a biofilm from a surface are disclosed. Such methods include the steps of providing one or more proteins at an interface between an aqueous phase and a liquid crystal phase or at the surface of a liquid crystal, contacting the interface or liquid crystal surface with a cleaning composition, and observing the orientational ordering of the liquid crystal at the interface or liquid crystal surface. A continuous change in the orientational ordering of the liquid crystal at the interface or liquid crystal surface indicates that the proteins are being removed from the interface, and the rate of change in orientational ordering, the extent of the change in orientational ordering, or both, are correlated with the effectiveness of the cleaning composition. Because the ability of cleaning agents to remove proteins from the interface or liquid crystal surface is correlated with the state and concentration of the protein that is being removed, similar methods and devices can be used to assay the effectiveness of a putative protein stabilizing agent or to assay the optimal concentration of a protein for preventing the unfolding of the protein.